Norwood, businesses agree on plan to add 90 parking spots

NORWOOD — The owners of three adjacent buildings on Livingston Street have agreed to a proposed parking plan that would create additional parking for borough businesses, officials said.

The proposal was developed after officials discovered problems with another parking plan that adds spaces for the ongoing streetscape beautification project. Bergen County plans to install 11 new parking spaces along Livingston Street for that project; the new spaces conflict with entrances and exits to several businesses in the borough, Mayor James Barsa said.

Barsa told the council at its recent meeting that he spent weeks meeting with the owners of the three buildings on a revised plan that includes a shared lot.

"This has created 90-plus spaces, which is a win for everyone," Barsa said.

The three buildings are home to Northern Valley Martial Arts, Wild Wasabi sushi restaurant and a 7-Eleven, among other businesses.

At present, vehicles access parking for the three buildings directly from Livingston Street. There is barely any delineation — such as a sidewalk — between the roadway and the parking areas.

The 7-Eleven parking lot, Barsa said, is a hotbed for early morning fender benders, and the new parking scheme will help abate that situation.

The proposed parking plan calls for the creation of angled parking around the three buildings, creating one large shared parking area.

Parking will be accessed in two places along Livingston Street, and there will be an exit onto Jay Street.

"The three buildings have different needs at different times of the day," Barsa said. "But they have all agreed to the plan."

Additional municipal parking will also be installed on Jay Street, as part of the streetscape beautification project. The first phase of the project was completed last month, with the dedication of the borough's new town square.